[pct-l] (no subject)

[Sue Kettles]

	I just finished a newly released book titled "Cascade Summer...My
Adventure on Oregon's Pacific Crest Trail" By Bob Welch.   He is a columnist
at the Register-Guard newspaper in Eugene, Oregon.  I had such fun reading
it - primarily because he is such a good writer and  I have enjoyed other
books he has written as well.  It has a lot of history of John Waldo's (of
Waldo Lake) life and his contribution to the wilderness here in Oregon.  But
I mostly liked it because it reminded me of the priceless first days of
planning a long distance hike when you're new to it all, the fears and the
dreams, the funny things you do and think about.  
	He also describes quite well the reality check about the
difficulties in being out there day after day.  I look at my pictures from
my thru-hike this past summer and all I can remember is the romance and
beauty of it... when I know good and well I was completely overwhelmed and
surprised by how hard it all actually was.  I can read the book and laugh at
myself and with him at the hard things, now that it's all over with.

I highly recommend it - good dreaming about next summer is needed this time
of year anyway.

SS/HJ